Poll: Time for a New P-Bass

[thedukeofno]

If you have to spend money in an advanced kind of P bass concept but they are not enough for a Fbass then look at a nice Xotic in Sherwood Green, much better than the Sadowsky ... unfortunately, however, nut width is 42mm

PS

I’ve noticed that you changed your mind .. now buying separate body and neck is no longer a taboo ... this is an achievement ... interior growth ongoing

Maybe I didn’t clarify, but option four is my buying both a Fender P and J, and then swapping the necks. Or buying just the neck...

 

[Stewie]

Didn’t know they were making a new tele bass. Link?

Musicians Friend or Guitar Center Squier Classis 50s Precision

 

[buldog5151bass]

Lots of great options out there. I've been playing my Lull P4 for 15 years quite happily.

 

[MtManiac]

Maybe, if you all ask nicely, I’ll let you play it.

I think I’d go the neck swap option before I’d go CS. My opinion on custom shop is that the law of diminishing returns applies. You’re paying Sadowsky prices, but I’ve not heard that you’re really getting that level of quality or customer attention.

It’s your moola - but fwiw, I’ve heard the opposite of Custom Shop from a few people who bought from them. People on the internet, like me.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Musicians Friend or Guitar Center Squier Classis 50s Precision
View attachment 3314823

Oh they’ve been making that model for years. And it has a square neck heel which would make a neck swap much more difficult to pull off.

 

[Stewie]

Oh they’ve been making that model for years. And it has a square neck heel which would make a neck swap much more difficult to pull off.

I have a 2008 model, Lake Placid Blue. The heel is the same shape as my 73 Jazz Bass and my 1999 MIM P Bass. I was surprised too. I swapped a 68 Tele neck onto that Jazz bass once and it fit. They are not as true to the 51-54 as we thought.

EDIT: Not compatible, I was very wrong

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

If the OP is looking higher end, get an EBMM Cutlass. Phenomenal Pbass. The Squier is my backup to this.
View attachment 3314677

These are great basses. I’ve spent a lot of time auditioning them. The reason I went with the Caprice over the Cutlass is the Caprice has the jazz bass nut width and the Caprice with the p pickup solo can nail the 60’s era Precision Vibe. The tone knob has a fuller range than the Cutlass.

The Cutlass tone knob won’t go completely off to give you that 60’s thump. The Cutlass pickup is hotter and it sounds more like a late 70’s /80’s era Precision or Yamaha BB to my ears.

Both sound and feel great . Just a matter of preference. Build quality is boutique level.

 

[Stranger Danger]

I have a 2008 model, Lake Placid Blue. The heel is the same shape as my 73 Jazz Bass and my 1999 MIM P Bass. I was surprised too. I swapped a 68 Tele neck onto that Jazz bass once and it fit. They are not as true to the 51-54 as we thought.

Interesting. It certainly looks like a square heel in the picture.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

Same goes for EBMM and their new Stingray Special with no "Slo" (Jazz width) neck. They used to offer it in the previous line, but now you can only get the new Stingray with the regular P width neck. I inquired with them too recently, and their reply was they have no plans to offer the SR Special with a Slo neck. Disappointing! These iconic bass manufacturers should give the consumer what they want (and they'll buy it!) rather than forcing them to seek out other brands.

Soviet style retail
"We don't hhyave."
"We don't Hhyave!"
"YOU STILL HHYERE!!?"

You can be stupid and lazy when you have no competitors, but there are countless (excellent) alternatives as previous posts show.

 

[Type-55]

I have a Bluesman P bass and can’t say enough good things about it.
Excellent fret work, NO dead spots,
Plays even from top to bottom, weights 8 lbs. Perfect balance and a jazz neck is available. The neck profile is not a spaghetti thin jazz. Very stable and. I put a Lollar P bass pickup in it and sold the David Allen that came with it. Classic p bass tone and the best thing is the bass won’t cost an arm and a leg. Compared to Sadowsky’s and Lull’s it’s a steal.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Maybe I didn’t clarify, but option four is my buying both a Fender P and J, and then swapping the necks. Or buying just the neck...

??? So you want a jazz neck in a P bass and a P neck in a jazz bass ??? OMG ... things are becoming complex ... difficult to climb mirrors IMO

 

[Kubicki Fan]

Yeah, Ed’ P-bass mashup video is pretty useful as well.

G&L LB-100.
Quarter-sawn maple neck, satin finish (feels smooth and fast). Dark rosewood FB without dots. Resonant, sugar pine body. 8.6 lbs. Jazz neck, mated to the body via six screws. Tapered, large diameter tuning pegs. A rock solid, weapons-grade instrument. All this with no upcharge b/c I got it through a dealer. Wide variey of finishes/colors available.

 

[Stewie]

Interesting. It certainly looks like a square heel in the picture.

You are right. They are different. You'd have to play some games to make it work Funny that The Jazz I have accepted the 68 Tele neck, and I sold the Tele with the Jazz neck in it. On my way back to fix my wrong posts

 

[thedukeofno]

??? So you want a jazz neck in a P bass and a P neck in a jazz bass ??? OMG ... things are becoming complex ... difficult to climb mirrors IMO

Well, the only thing better than one bass is multiple basses, right?

 

[thedukeofno]

Do we have a winner?

 

[chris_b]

If I was wanted a 4 string P bass I'd start by looking at Fender. For a 5 string P bass I'd start with Mike Lull. I guess a Lull 4 string P would be good also.

I have a Mike Lull PJ5 which is a beautiful instrument to play.

 

[Mark 63]

I’ve been watching this one in Reverb (no affiliation with seller or Reverb). It’s purportedly a 58 Precision with factory refinish and a factory installed 68 Jazz neck with a Precision bass decal. I haven’t gotten down to Brooklyn to look at it. The description is plausible, but buying vintage fills me with anxiety. It looks like Duck Dunn’s bass.

Fender Precision Bass 1958 Candy Apple Red

 

[saabfender]

I’ve been watching this one in Reverb (no affiliation with seller or Reverb). It’s purportedly a 58 Precision with factory refinish and a factory installed 68 Jazz neck with a Precision bass decal. I haven’t gotten down to Brooklyn to look at it. The description is plausible, but buying vintage fills me with anxiety. It looks like Duck Dunn’s bass.

View attachment 3316024

Fender Precision Bass 1958 Candy Apple Red

That kind of thing frightens me out of my mind. Too much money at stake in me not making a mistake. Moves the needle from instrument to collectible. If I bought something like that, I'd ignore all that vintage stuff and understand it only as the instrument itself. Nobody can prove wrong that you love playing a particular instrument.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

I guess this topic can be added to anytime without being a ZOMBIE...!

I have to say that my P Bass found me when I was looking at everything under the sun...

I saw this on Reverb with like near 3000 views in over two years and no offers from a small dealer in the Bay area. The brand is Freedom Custom Guitar Research from Tokyo, Japan. The company does some amazing instruments with some old world philosophy and new age ideas. Pino Paladino is a player and endorsing artist.

I am the second owner of this 2008 custom ordered Slab Body Precision Bass, with a stock Peter Florence Voodoo P pickup that has pristine quality wiring, Vintage White thin nitro finish, Maple neck & Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with a warm stainless steel fret wire compound, sporting in house produced nickel vintage 60's reverse tuners, threaded saddle bridge and serialized neck plate.

I could not afford to order this extremely well made custom knock-off of a super rare Fender '66 Slab P Bass sold only in the UK. I was however very lucky to have stumbled onto a fantastic sounding Bass that sat on a shelf that others walked by.

I LOVE IT!

...and expect Pino digs his Bass, too!

 

[CallMeAl]

View attachment 3315412
Do we have a winner?

Did you get it??